Prepayment gas-meter.



PATENTED NOV. 19. 1907.

N. D. NELSON.

PREPAYMENT GAS METER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1906.

i SHEETS-SHEBT 1` du l UH UIHUHUH INVENTOR e 25am. Maw@ V Cl:

No. 871,290, PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

N. D. NELSON.'

PREPAYMENT GAS METER APPLIGATION FILED JULYz?, 190s.

4 SHEETS-.SEBET 2.

ATTORNEY No. 871,290. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

N. D. NELSON. PREPAYMENT GAS METER.

APPLIO'ATION FILED JULY Z7. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOH @/ZZL. .7l/ebow ATTORNEY Y No. 871,290. v PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

N. D. NELSON.

PREPAYMENT GAS. METER. APPLIOATION FILED JULYzv. 190e.

'i SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: g

INVENTOR q' Jx/dsmm .5 BY I /m ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Peel@ ltilzi Nits n. NELSON, or NEW Yoeri, n. Y.

PREPAYIIENT GAS-ETER.

new and useful Improvements in Prepayrf- Inent Gas-Meters, of

specification.

which thefellowirig is a lfljhej. invention relates to improvements 1nco1ncontrolled apparatus for gas-meters, and it consists 1n the novel features, arrange- .nents and combinations ofl parts hereinafter fiilescribed, and particularly pointed out in a simple, durable, compact and reliable the claims.

The object of my Invention 1s to provide means to be applied to a meter to permit of the prepayment for the gas to be consumed, the meter equipped with the features constituting 'my invention being a coin-coin trolledgas-mete'r.

Inrcarrying out my invention I eoniine the features of the coin-controlled valve-operata ing mechanism in a box or casing secured tothe side ofthe gas meter between the inlet pipe thereto and the ,iront edge of the meter and without extemling said casing above the meter or disturbing the location of the usual inlet cone b v which the meter is connected with the usual supply pipe leading thereto. I also provide the casing containing the coin-receiving and valve-operating I'nechanism with an index, visible upon the front of the casing, whereby the consumer may determine the quantity of gas lie has .purchased and thereafter at any time the quantity of gas which he may have left to his credit to'be consumed. The coin-receiving and valve-operating mechanisms provided b vne havebeen designed with the purpose of securing certainty in their operation, both for the benefit of the purchaser and the vender of the gas.

The invention will be fully understood from the. detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanving drawings, in which:

V Figure. 1 is a front elevation of a gas meter of usual construction equipped with a coin .controlled mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same, a portion of the cover of thcmeter being bro`=0n away to illustrate the usual meter index-mechan ism, the details oi whichform no part of my presenty invention;` Fig. 3 is an enlarged de- Speccation of Letters Patent.

i V Application iled July 27. i906. Serial No. 327.990.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

tached front elevation of the casing contain ing the coin-controlled mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 4t is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of same, the secs tion being on thedotted liuc 4-4 of Fig. 5; 'Fig'. 5 is a top view et' same, the cover et' the inelosing casing being omitted so as to disclose the interior mechanism, Fig. (5 is a vertical transverse section of same on the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of same on the dotted line 7--7 of Fig. 4; 8 is a vertical transverse section through a portion oi same on the dotted line 8*-8 oi Figs. e. and 9; Fig. 9 is a detached horizontal section of a portion of same on the dotted line 9-*9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a vertical section ot' a portion oi same on the dotted line 1U-10 of Fig. l1; Fig. 11 is a horizontal section through a portion of? same on the dotted line 11`i1 of Fig. 1G; Fig. 12 1s an enlarged vertical t tion oi a portion of the coin-controlled rnech- .'anism -talien on a central line through the same, and Fig. 13 is a horizontal section ol same on -the dotted line' 13-*13 of Fig. 8.

ln the lrawings, 20 designates a meter of any usual or-suitable construction having a customary inlet pipe 21 and a usual outlet pipe 22, whence the gas after passing through the meter and suitably actuating the customary mechanism therein escapes to the service pipes leading to the burners.

-ln Fig. 2 I illustrate a portion of well known meter mechanism operated by the passage ois the through the meter to cilect the usual indexing, and this mechanism requires no special description, being well known and my invention having nothing to do therewith, with the exception that the usual shaft- 23 actuated by said mechanism is utilized in connection with the features constituting my invention, all ci which are inclosed within a box or. easing 2l vsecured to the side' el the `front portion of the meter and facing frontwardly es shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top of the box 24 being about on line with the top of the meter and the iront of said box being about flush with, the iront of the meter, and said box 24 being intermediate the inlet pipe 21 and the front of the meter, which is a very desirable and Aconvenient position for the box and in carrying out my invention I have so designed the parts et' same that their inclosing box may be ygiven the location with re spect to the meter indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The box 24 has at its rear end a box-like longitudinal sec section (Fig. 4) interposed' ai the inlet pipe 21, and With-in this section 25 is formed 'a chamber26 containing the control-valve s ection 25 into the interior of the b ox 24,'

upon which end is secured a crank arm 32 by which the valve 27 is operated to open or move upwardly. The crank arm 32 is formed Cn l toward the front through the ing lust above described comprlsmg the meter with a laterally projecting arm or finger 33 which is engaged by a stem 34 (Fig. 12) of a spirally 'threaded longitudinally disposed worm 35 adapted to bc moved inwardly or toward the rear (without rotating) from the crank handle 36 upon the introduction of a proper coin to the mechanism and in a reverse or outwardly direction toward the front (while rotating) from the meter-actuating-shalt 23, the movement' oi the worm 35 inwardly by means of the handle 36 operat ing to open the valve 27 and the movement of said worm reversely or toward the front permitting said valve 27 to close. The stem 34 is rigid with the worm 35 and has a lain cylindrical surface of considerable lengt i, as

shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 12, and at its outer or rear end is formed with an annular groove 37 into which the arm 33 lconnected with the crank mechanism for operating the valve 27, may pass to permit the valve 27 to seat and closethe passagethrough the inlet pipe 21.

Thelmeter operating-rod or shaft 23 enters the box 24 and is provided therein with a vgear Wheel38 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) which is in `1nesh with a gear Wheel 39 carried by an arm 40 swung from a shaft 41 and having a depending segmental slotted portion 42 (Fig.- 4), whereby by means of a screw 43 said arm 40 may be secured in any necessary position to vmake a proper engagement of the gear Wheel 39 withthe gear wheel 38, in accordance with thesize of the gear wheel 38. The gear wheel 39 is in vconstant mesh with a gear wheel-44 .secured upon the said shaft 41, which extends transversely of the box 24 and is providedbclow the stem 34 with a worm 45 (Fig. 6) in mesh with a gear wheel 46 keyed to said stem, said stem having a longitudinal groove 47 (Fig. 12) and saidA gear wheel -46 a key 48 within the same, whereby the said gear wheel may impart rotaryl motion to the stem 34 and worm 35 and permit said stem to travelthrough the same. The movement of the stem 34 controls theoper-l ation of the valve 27, and said stem during the, gas consumption is moved forwardly or chain of gear operating-rod 23, gear wheels 38, 39, 44, shaft 41,'worm 45 and gea); wheel 4 6.

The worm 35 has'upon it a nut 5() (Fig.

'12), held by a bracket51 and having secured open the valve 27.

upon it a disk 52, which is only rotated when f 'a ,proper coin has been introduced to the machine and the handle 36 is operated to The outward movement, toward the front, of the stem 34 results inthe worm 35 rotating Within the nut 50 without actuating the same or any part connected therewith, and this movement of said stem and Worm is always While the same are in rotation. 1 The inward movement of the stem 34 and worm 35, for opening the valve 27, is direct and without said stem and worm being rotated, this direct movement of said stem and Worm being effected by imparting rotary motion to the disk 52 and nut 50.

The disk 52 is a plain flat plate having at opposite points in its periphery recesses 53 (Fig.v 3), and on its front face pins 54, and said disk remains stationary except when it is rotated from the crank handle 36 after a coin has been introduced into' vthe machine. The disk. 52 is held agains't rotation, except when actuated from the handle 36, by means of a dog55 whose engaging end enters the recess 53 which may at the time be at the upper edge ol the disk. The dog 55 is pressed against the disk 52 by means of a spring 56 and is secured upon a rock shaft 57 carrying a crank arm 58, which upon the application of a proper coin to the machine and the actuation of same by the coin hohling mechanism, is elevated by the contact therewith of the coin, lettered 59 in Fig. '10, for the purpose of turning the shaft 57 and elevating the dog 55 from contact with the disk '52, so thatA the latter by the contact of the same coin with one of the `pins 54 may' be compelled to rotate and impart its motion to the nut 50, for driving the 'worm 35 and its stem' 34 inwardly to open the val-ve 27.

In the front of the casing 24 is a circular forwardly projecting section 6() .containing the `coin slot 61 at one side of the centerthereof and opening at itslower side into a vertical inwardly inclined chute 62, down through which the coins fall into a drawer or coin receptacle 63 (Fig. 3), provided with a'suitable lock 64. In the front of the casing 24 `above the circular section 6,0 islormed 'a segmental slot 65 exposing a scale 66 bear- 'ing'a series of numerals for coperation with anindex hand 67, said scale and hand denoting the 'position of the valve 27 and moving toward'.v the leftA as the gas is consumed. 'Theft hand 67'mo'ves toward the..

right tluringtheoperation 'of the mechanism,v

with the proper coins,A to op'en 'the valve 27. The indexh'and 67 is formed on the front end of a bent arm 68 (Fig. 5) integral with a plate 69 set into a groove in that portion of the bracket 51 which encompasses and serves as a bearing for the nut 50, aszshovvn in Fig.'12. The plate 69 is formed vwith a evince,

that said stein may rotate without rotating said disk. The disk 73 moves directly rear Wardly and rontwardly and carries the pin 72 along the cam slot 71, which being oblique necessitates the movement of the cani plate 70 to follow the pin 72. The cam 70 duringT the'travel of the stem 34- erlornis an axial movement and'ccinpels a ike movement in the disk 69, arm 68 and index finger l67,

causing the latter to travel along vthe'rscale 66 provided in the front of the casing 24, whereby the'index ringer 67 is compelled to move correspondingly with the movement of the stem 3e, whether the latter is moving inwardly due to the rotation vci the crank handle 36 or outwardly due to the consumption ofthe gas.

At thelower edge ofthe disk 73 is formed-a downwardlyvextending linger 7 5 which guides in a slotted plate 76 to prevent the disk '7 3 from having any rotary motion and also serves when the full capacity of the coin controlled mechanism has been reached, to

move inwardly against the arm`77 (Fig. 12)

of a latch 78 and turn the arm 79 of said latch u wardly into one of the recesses 58 of the dis i 52, thereby locking said disk against rotation. mits of eight coins, say, eight quarters, being introduced, one after another, into the mechanism for purchasing 'two dollars worth of gas at one time, and after the last one of the eight quarters has been thus introduced and the mechanism operated thereby, the finger' 75 will have reached the inner end of its line of travel and thrown the latch arm 79 upwardly into the recess 53 of the disk 52, thereby locking the apparatus against further operation and also, in the manner hereinafter described, locking the coin receiving devices against operation with the coin slot 61 closed, so that no further coins mayin that condition of the apparatus he introduced' through said slot.

The. coin receiving means comprise a disk 80 which lits within the iorufardl)y projecting section 60 ol the casing 24 and is close against the inner 'face thcreol, as shown in Figs. i), 1 l 12, and this disk 8O carries upon its front lace a pin 81 which enters the hub 82 olthi` crank handle 36, the said hub 82 beingr secured to said pin 81 by means of a pin 83 or other suitable means. The side of the' section 6U is provided with a stud 84 (Fig. 11) uhich serves as a stop and also as means for keeping the disk S0 close against the inner iront all ef the section 6i?. The disk 8O is lormcd iu its edge with a recess 85 which permits said y'oei-ve between them a The construction `presented ad-.

extends inwardly to and bears upon the front edges of the nut 50 and receives within it and forms a` housing for the worm 35. Upon the inner face of the plate 80 and near one edge thereof-is secureda sto ,-pin 87 (Figs. 9, 11,

12), and also' at one si e of the sleeve 86 isprovided acoinholding 4frame 88 formed of two parallel plates properly separated to re'- shown in Figs. 10 andll, the frame 88 closed at its guter or front edge with the eX-` ception of'a suilicientportion at the sideof one end thereof to match-the coin slot 61, there being an opening 89 (Fig. 12) inthe disk 8G, 'corresponding with the coin-slot 61 leading into the spacenumbered 90 (Fig. 12) in the frame 88, so that a coin introduced to the coin slot 61 and opening 89 may reach the frame 88 and 'be heldl therein at one end of the space 90, where the 'coin is utilized to actuate the mechanism of the device in the manner hereinafter described'and then per' mitte'd .to escape (when the coin-receiving end of thespace 90 attains a vertical tion) dewnthrough the chute 62. At one end of the frame 88 the space 99 is wider than at the otherend thereof, as shown in Fig., 13, this being due to the fact that the inner wall closing the rear end of the space 90 varies in width, as at 91. lf a coin less than the proper size were introduced into the frame 88 it would not be heldvat one end ofsaid frame in the manner shown in Figs. 8, 1.0 and 13 but would slip through said frame upon the turning of the latter from its horizontal position (which is the introductory position Iier the coin, as shown in Fig. 1.2) uithout operating any of the mechanism. edge ofthe frame 88 is formed near one end with a recess 91 (Fig. 9) to permit of 4a limited exposure of the edge of the coin 59 so 'that it may contact, when the crank handle 36 and plate 80 are operated, with one of the pins 54 on the disk 52, for the purpose of rotating said disk, and the said inner edge or" the frame 88 near its other end is formed with a recess 92 so that duringthe rotation of the frame 88 from the crank handle 36 said frame may pass by the other piu 54 on the disk 52 without touching' the same. l

At the receiving end of the frame 88 there is provided in the outer edge of said'irame a recess 93, which, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, permits the exposure ol eport-ion of the coin 59, so that during: the rotation of the frame 88 the coin before reacl'iingir the pin 54 on the disk 52 `to rotate the latten-Hwy he ,carried against the crank arm 58 and elevate thc-dog posi- The inner or rear,

being, 'i

55 80, so that said coin may not lose its position.

55 from saiddisk 52., thus reeing the disk 52 so that it may be rotated by the vpressure of the coin against the pin 54. At the opposite end of the frame 8S (Fig. 9) is formed a recessQ/l, so vthat during the rotation of the frame 88 said recess 94.1nay pass along by the crank arm 5S without touching the same.

.. When the frame 8S is rotated without a' proper coin being therein the recess nil; will also pass by said crank arni'a and allow the latter to remain at rest, wheieby the dog 55 maintains the disk 52 in a. locked position and the worin 35 is held at rest. ln order to .impart motion from the crank handle 236 to t-he disk 52 and through said disk and its nut 50 to the worm a proper 'coin inust be introduced into the traine 88, since the coin is I .utilized first to free the dog from the disk 52 and then to effect the rotation of said disk With its nut 50, the'- rotation of the latter causing the Worm 35 tohave a direct inward movement. Adjacent to the front edge of .the frame 88 the end thereof which does not initially' receivethe coins is formed wit-li a revcess 95 (Fig. Q), which permits said traine 88 to rotate by the stop pin 84 fixed in the circular frame section 60, while at the receiving end of the frame 88 -no` such recess is provided, itbeing intendcdthat the. receiving end vof the frame 88I shall strike against the jstopS-l and become arrested thereby when I said traine is in a horizontal position in line "with the coinreceiving slot 61.4 After the coin has been introduced into the frame 88 thecrank handle-86 is .moved downwardly -toward the left, looking at Fig. 3, so as to Acarrythe coin upwardly against the crank at whichtiine Vthe coiniwill ltall from said frame land pass downwardly along said. chute, into the cash receptacle 63. When the traine 88 thus attains its vertical d ischarge position, the pin 87 on the disk 8O will contact with the stop 84 and arrest said disk and said fiaiiieSR.

When the coin 59 1s in the receiving end ofl the frameSS and the Alatter isheing rotated, said coin is vheld between the rear wall 91 of the frame 88 and the inner face of the front section 60ct the casing, a portion of the edge ot the coin remaining in the slot S9 in the disk fI therefore form in the inner wall of thefront section 60 a vertical groove 96 in line with the coin when the`latt(--r reaches its discharge position, so that the coinl may readily escape downwardly into the chute 60, the opening twin-the plate or disk. 8() extending to the outer edge ot said disk and passing into line.

vwith said groove 96 when the trame attains its discharging. position. When the shown in Fig.

admission slot 89 of the disk 80 passes fron the coin slot' 51 the face of said disk closes said slot 61.

rEhe crank handle 36 is rigid With t-he disk 8() and l provide said handle, 'as shown in Fig'. 3, with a knir'e edge 97,` so thatv in the event that a person should introduce a coin tied to al string or the like through the slot 61, the movement of the plate or disk 8.0 by means of' the handle 36 would result in the string or the like being severed by the knife SlT. The slot 8) in the disk S0 when moving upwardly from-the admission slotl, and due to the `fact lthat said slot 89 is below the center of said disk carries its outer end upwardly first from the slot 61, thus causing any string or wire which might be connected with a coin, to slide along the slot 61 toward the inner end of same in position for the knife 97 to perform its function.

'llie disk 52 is formed with slots 99 through which an instrument 'could pass should one be inserted through the coin 'slot 61 for the purpose of operating the interna-1 mechanism without the use of a coin.

Within the casing 24 I provide segmental plates 100 which are in line With'the circular front section 60 of said casing and fornrwalls within which the inner portions of the outer edges of the frame S8 may rotate during the operation of the machine, the inner edges of said frames 100 being flanged inwardly as shown in Fig. S) to encompass the disk 52. The upper edge of. the right hand segmental .plate 10() (Fig. 4) serves' asia stop for the crank arm 58 (Fig. 8) when the dog 55 is in engagement with one of the recesses 53 of the disk 52.

Within the rear easing section 25 I provide above the valve 27 a shelf 101 to prevent anv'sedinient settling upon the valve or- -its seat.

' [n the initial condition of the. mechanism vcoiistituting my invention, the parts will he lin the relative positions shown in Fig. Lt,.the

valve- 27 being closed, the crank handle 36 being iii a vertical position, the index finger `67 being at the cipher on the scale 66 and the coin receiving 'frame $8 .being in a horizontal position with the entrance opening 89 thereto in line with the coin receiving slot 61, as When the parts are in t'ne position just stat-ed the wor1n35 and its stem 34 are in their .extreme forward position and the arm 33 connected witlitlie valve operating arms is in the annular groove 37 at the outer end of said stein. When the valve 27 is in its. closed position no gas is allowed toV enter the meter. 'lhe consumer desiring to purchase gas will insert the proper coin,v a

silver quarter, for illustration, through the coin slot 61 and into the space 9() of the frame HH, to the position indicated by dotted lilies in Fig. 9 and solid lines in Figs. 8 and 13, and thereupon the consumer will rotate the smeer crank handle. 36 from the position shown in Fig. 3 downward lv toward the left until the said handle complet-cs a 'three-quarter turn, when the frame 8S will attain a vertical. osition in line with the left hand edge o the chute 62, looking at the iront of 'the meter, and the coin escapes downwardly to the cash box The rotation of 'the frame 88 with the coin 59 therein results in said coin being carried upwardly and -round Itoward the left, as shown in Fig. l0, said coin at the eX- posure recess 93 in the frame 88 iirst acting against the crank ann 53 to free the dog 55 'from the disk and then at the exposure recess 91 in seid frame engaging a pin. 54 on said disk 52 and eiiecting'during the eon tinued movement of seid irarne the rotation of said disk, saiddisli'with each operation of the freine 8S while yholding a coin making about one-hslf of a rotation. The rotation of the dislrf52, hy means ofthe coin, results in the nut having a corresponding rotation and driving the worin 35 and stein 3d inwardlytoward' the rear,l whereby the hev-` eled inner end 4edges of said stem are pressed against the beveled edges ci the arm. 33 and the valve 27 is forced to an open position. lf the purchaser only desires 'the twenty-five cents worth of 'ie will pay no further attention to the apparatus. The valve 27 having been opened the gas will ilow 'through the inlet S21 to the meter end thence yto the outlet 22, and during' its consumption 'it will through the usual two-foot meter shaft 98, shaft 23, gear wheels 38, 33,' 44', shaft 4l, worm 45 and gear Wheel 46, gradually rotate the stem 34 and worin 35, and at such time the nut 5G grarluallynioves saidworm 35 toward .its initial or extreme forward position. The inward or rearward movement of the stem 34 having acted through the crank arm 32 and arm 29 to open the valve 27, the outward. or frontwnrd movement of said stem will result in the closing of the valve 27.

The rotation. of the nut 50 by ineanso the disk 52 eil'ccts the inward or rearward movement of the stem 34 and worin 35, and the rotation of the worin 35 within the nut 50 when the latter is stationary compels the irontward movement oi said worm und stem. l/hen the consumer placed the coin in the ira-nie 88 and operated the worm 35 to open the valve 27, the movement of the stem 34 inwardly resultedin the disk .3 and pin 7.2 beingcarried inwardly to s slight extent and in said in acting on the cam plete Oto turn the in ex finger 37 'from the ci iher to the numeral l on the scale 66. urine the` outward movement of the worm 35 and stem 34 during the consumption of the gras the pin 72 moves outwardly with said stern mid through the earn .7G reverses he niovement of the index finger 6?', in the illustration referred to returning said finger to the cipher on thescele 36.

I have constructed the present apparatus to receive eight successive coins or to sell two dollars worth of gaswhen so desired, and in such employment of thevapparatus thc pur' Chaser will insert one coin in the manner heretofore described and operate the handle 36, and thereupon hc will return the handle to its initial position moving it downwardly toward the left and then u wardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, and then successively introduce the further coins and o crate the said handle in the same manner t at he did upon the introduction of the irst coin. Each successive operation of the handle 36 will result' in the worm 35 and stem 34 moving inwardly or toward the recrpand after the eighth coin has been introduced and the handie 36 operated for the eighth time, the full capacity of the present mechanism will htve been reached and the worm 35 and stem 34 will he at their extreme inward or rearward position, and upon. attaining this position the )finger 75 connected with the disk 73 will have moved against the finger 77 of the latch 73 and moved the arm 79 of said latch into the thcnlower recess 53 ofthe disk 52, thereby locking the said disk against rotation;

and atthis time the iront end of this arm 79,

being then elevated, will stand in the path of the frame 88, thereby preventing the'latter from' being returned to its initial position and enabling the disk 80 to maintain the coin admission slot closed. During` the inward motion of the stem 54, uponthe successive opera tions of the handle 36, the pin 72 acting against the cam 70 gradually moves the index linger 67 until it reaches the numeral. 3 on the scale 66. After the stein 34 has moved inwardly tc a slight extent the annu lar groove 37 at the inner end of said stem will pass inwardly beyond the arm 33 of the valve operating arms and thereafter said arm 33 will simply ride upon the upper surface of said stein.. When the upper surface of 'the stein 34 first passes-'under the arm 33 the valve 27 will have been o cned to its full-extent, and said Ivalve wil romain in such position during all ofthe time that the upper surface of said stem is moving under said arm both duringthe inward and out@ ward movements of the said stem. During the consumption' of the gas, two dollars' worth thus having,T been purchased, the worm 35 and stein 34 will he moved frontwardl with the result that the index. hand 67 will gradually return to its initial position, the inger'75 will 'ieave the latch plate 7S and the arm 79 thereof dro from its engagement 'with the disl; 52, an finally thc outer end of the stem 34 will reach the arm connected with the valve and said arm will enter the annular groove 37 of said stem and allow the valve 27 to close and cut oil the ilow of the gas to the meter. l

l`he`act that the gear wheel 39 is mounted .'stem,` a nut. 50 engaging s'aid worm 35 for' adjusted to its upona radial arm-40 swun from the shaft 41 enables me to adjust sait gear wheel upwardly or downwardly to effect the proper engagement ot the same with the gear wheel 38 carried by the meter operating shaft 23, in accordance with the size of said gear Wheel 38. lVhen the gear wheel 39 has been to the'frear wheel 38 it is secured by means of the slotted arm 42 and screw 43, as shown in Fig. 4. The gear Wheel 39 is always. in

' mesh with the gear wheel 44, but due to the varying prices of gas it may be necessary in wit: the coin-controlling mechanism per se,`

will be made the subject-cfa s cation for Letters Patent.

What I claim as my invention and to seeur'eby Letters-Patent, isz- 1. A meter, ,a valve for controlling the flow of gas through the same, aconnected worm (35) and stem (34) adapted to have a parat@ applidesire longitudinal movement andto control the .position of said valve, andl said stem having a longitudinal roove 47, a gear-Wheel 46 mounted on sai lstem and having agkey 48 in said groove, a worm 45 in mesh w1th said gear wheel, mechanism operable by the passage of gas from the meter and -connected with said worm vv45 for rotating the same andy said gear-wheel and connected Worm .and

compelling it and its stem 34 to travel longitudinally toward their initial position when they are thus rotated, means for holding said nut stationarywhile said connected Worm and stem are traveling toward their initial position, and means for manually rotating said nut and thereby compelling-the vsameV to effect t-he direct reverse travel of said connected stem and worm without rotation for opening said valve; substantially as set forth. v i

2.- A` meter, a valve for controlling the :flow ot gas through the same, a connected worm and stem adapted to have a longitudinal movement and to control by its posit-ion theposition of said valve, mechanism operable by the vpassage of gas from the meter 60v and engaging said stem for rotating said stem and worm, a nnt engaging said worm for compelling said stem and worm to travel longitudinally toward'ltheir initial position when they are thus rotated, means for manually rotating said nut and thereby compelproper position with respect4 I .aF/1,290v

travel-of said -stem and worm without rotat1on for o ening vsaid valve, and means actuated by't e travel of said `stem for locking said nut against rotation when the vmechanling. thesame to effect the direct reverse ism has beenactuated -to its predetermined y capacity; substantially assettorth. i

3. A iiow of gas )through thel saine, a connected worm and stem adaptedto have a longitudinal movement and to control by its position the position of said valve.' mechanismopermeter, a valve Vfor controlling' the able by the, passage of gas from themeter and engaging said' stern .for rotating said stem and worm, a nut engaging said worm for compelling said. stem and worm to travel longitudinally towardtheir initial position when they are thus rotated, means for vman-A lually rotating said nut and'l thereby compelling the same to effect the direct reverse travel of said 'stern and worn'r without rotaf tion for .opening said valve, ailpivoted latch, and a part carried by said stem for enga in said latch and moving it to av'position' to locl said nut against rotation'when the mechan ism has been'actuated to its l'predetermined 1 v capacityysubstantially as setforth.

4. 'A meter, a valve for controlling `the ilow of gas through `the same, `a connected worm' and stem adapted to have a longitudinal movement and to control by itsHposition the osition of said valve, mechanism ter and engaging said stem for rotating said stem and worm, a nut engaging said worm for compelling said sternand Worm to travel longitudinally toward their -initial'pos'ition when they are'thus rotated, means'for manually rotating said nutV and thereby compelling the same to effect the direct reverse travel o't said stem and worm'without rota-l p tion for opening saidl valve, an' index'. on which thegas purchased lsindicated, a hand for said index, a cam-plate'connected'with said hand for moving the same, and a pin carried by said stem in engagement with said cam for acting on the latter during the travel of said stem; substantially .as set forth.l

5. AY meter,` a lvalve for controlling the flow of gas through the same, Aa connected worm and stem ada ted to have a longitudinal movement anal) to control by its position the osition of said valve, mechanism operable y the passage of gas from 'the meter and engaging said stem for rotating saidV stem and worm, a nut engaging said worm for com elling said stern and worm to travel longitu inally toward their initial position when theyare thus rotated, means for manually rotating Vsaid nut. and thereby compelling the same to etl'ect the direct reversetravelof opening saidvalve, an index on whichthe gas purchased is indicated, a hand for said` vsaid stem and worm without rotation lfor I forth.

' Y indexfa earn plate connected'with said hand for .actuating .thesaine and being mounted to turn on the arc .of a circle 'and having an pbliqpe slot, and a pin carried-by saidsteni -insaid slot for 'acting .against said cam dur# iig` th'e 'travel of said stem; substantiallr as 'set forth. v

6. A. meter, a valve for controlling the liow ofgasthrought the' saine, a rock-shaft carryingan arm upon which saidvalve is,

secured and having an actuating crank-a rin, a worin and stern' ada ted to ,have a longi- '.tudinal .movement an l to control'thc position of said valve,v mechanism. o ierable 'by the assage-of gas from the'ineter or rotating 1 sai stem andlworm,la nut for com elling Y* vo h 1 said valve is closed and a uniform surface to 'ride below said. crank-arm when saidvaivev .'said stem and worm to travel longitiir inally toward their' initial position when they' are thus'rotated, said stem having a grooved end to receive 'theend of said crank-arm when 'is- .open, and means for manually rotating s aid nut an'd -thereby compelling the same to effect the .rever se travel of said stem and Aworin for opening said valve; substantially Yas 'set forth. A

7.--A meter, a .valve for'controlling the' ilov of gas through the same, crock-shaft an arm upon which said valve, is

" secured and actuating crank-aim,

a. worm and stemada ted to have a longitudinal movement an tocontrol the posiable by tion of saidvalve, mechanism o the passagejof gasfroni the meter or rotating said. stem and-worin, a nut for compelling s aid'stem and worm totravellongitudinally toward their initial position when they are thus rotated, said stem havi v a uniform surface to rido below said cran arm when said valvis open forinaintainiiwr it at a uniform open-position, and means -ici:'effecting the reverse travel of said worm .and stem for vopening said valve; substantiallyV as set 8. A meter, a ,valve lfor Vcontrollingthe lojw of gas through the saine, a rock shaft carrying an arm to whichsaid .valv'i'is secured,*and having an actuating eran-l; arm, a worm and stein, ada ited to have 'a longitu inal movement an to control the positio of said valve,4 mechanism-copereting with the passage of gas from 'the meter for 'effecting the tra-vel of :said worm ind stem l toward the initial position, said sti-m having a groovedend to i'eceiv.:` the end of said crank :mn when said valve is closed and a uniform surface to ride' against said arm when said valve is open .Fer maintaining. it at 'the uniform open posit-ion, and means for manually eiiecting the reverse travel of said worm and stenifor openingsaid valve; sub- .stantiallv as set forth.

9. A meter, a'valve for 4controllingv the in engagement with said cam for acting on`44 the lat-ter during-the travel oisaid stemgsubstrntiailvas set forth. i

if). A meter, a valve'for controlling'thef- 'iow of gas through the samrg'aA Worin and stein adapted to have a longitudinal move-4 ment to control the. position of saidvalve,

85- gas from the 'ineter for effecting the travel of A said 'worin and stein toward the initialposi mechanisnrco ratin'r withA the. ass ve of tion, means -for manually effecting the rev' flow'of gas throu h the same, a..ivorm and A versetravel of said worm and stemto open :said valve, "an index onwhi'ch-the as purchased is indicated, -a.hand.'for.`said index,' a

cern plate.connc'a'ite'd "vvitliri said hand for acl 'triating the same and bein mounted on the arcof a' circle and avin'g' an oblique,

slot', and a pinjcarried Abyisaidfs min said slot 'for acting against said'cam'duri'ng the. travel of said stem; substantially as Set lforth'.

11. A-meter, a valve for controlling the flow of gas throu h the same, a 'worm and stem adapted toA ave a longitudinal movement to control 'the'positionof said valve', mechanism coperating with the passage of gas from the meter for effecting the travel of said'worm andstem toward the initial positipn, means for manually efl'ecting the reverse travel of saidcvorm and stem for opening said valve, and means o erablc by the movement ol' Said'steni for loc "ng sai@` worin and stem against uither'actuation one direction after having bcenmoved tothe full extent intended for the capacit of the appa; rntns; substantially as set fort Signed at NewYork cit ,in the county of New York :ind State of hcw York this 25tli- 115 day of July A.AD. 1906.

-vfiLs D. NELSON. 'Wi tncsses:

Ciias. G. Ginn, Aii'i'iiiJn Minion. 

